Inflatable back and head floor rest

ABSTRACT

A wedge shaped, inflatable cushion is provided having its body portion divided into ribbed sections defined by transverse ribs. The cushion body portion is quilted transversely to form the ribs and ribbed sections, the sections thus being in communication with each other so that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion of the body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot point, the head and other sections which support lighter portions of the body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position.

United States Patent Harris [54] INFLATABLE BACK AND HEAD FLOOR REST [72] Inventor: Carl Robert Harris, 1320 Villa Drive, Louisville, Ky. 40219 [22] Filed: May 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 38,096

[52] US. Cl ..297/456, 297/DIG. 3, 5/341, 5/348 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 27/08, A47c 27/18, A470 7/02 [58] Field of Search ..5/327, 348, 339, 341; 297/452,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,645 10/1952 Boland ..297/DIG. 3 3,003,815 10/1961 Zinn ..297/456 X [451 Aug. 1,1972

3,284,817 11/1966 Landwirth ..5/327 3,389,411 6/1968 Emery ..5/339 3,420,574 1/1969 Smith ..297/456 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Norman L. Wilson, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A wedge shaped, inflatable cushion is provided having its body portion divided into ribbed sections defined by transverse ribs. The cushion body portion is quilted transversely to form the ribs and ribbed sections, the sections thus being in communication with each other so that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion of the body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot point, the head and other sections which support lighter portions of the body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 1 1912 3,680.91 7

- INVENTOR CARL. R HARRIS HIS ATTORNEY This invention relates to a fully inflatable back and head rest support for persons, children, who prefer to watch television from a position on the floor. The cushion of this invention will be constructed out of a rubber or plastic inflatable material and it is designed to adjust to the physical contour of the user to give the necessary support for floor television viewing. The user of the cushion will lie on his back with the lower portion or sections of the cushion in the area of the lower back. The pressure of the back and shoulders on these sections forces other sections of the cushion to adjust to the contour of the back and shoulders. This forces additional air into the head support section to hold the head in a more comfortable viewing position. The cushion will be inflated and deflated by a valve.

This invention can perhaps be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cushion of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the cushion.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the cushion in use.

In FIG. 1 the cushion 2 of the invention is shown with its sides 4, front 6, back 8 and bottom 10 in a fully inflated, upright position. It can be-seen that cushion 2 has substantially triangular sides 4. Each side is actually shaped like 'a scalene triangle with its long side 12 bowed inwardly. Sections l4, l6, l8 and are the back and head rests, the drawing showing a ribbed, front panel designed to adjust to the physical contour of the person occupying the cushion. As can be seen from the drawing, the cushion is quilted to form sections 14, l6, l8 and 20. In other words, opposite front and bottom, and also front and back panels are joined together in quilted fashion transversely between sides 4. The uppermost ribbed section, denoted by the numeral 20, will be slightly larger than back ribbed section 16. Headrest section 20 will expand (due to the pressure applied by the weight of the back and shoulders) to form a firm comfortable support for the head since the ribbed sections are in communication with each other. All seams will be heat pressure sealed to withstand the desired air pressure, as dictated by modern methods. Hence the front, back and bottom panels 6, 8 and 10 are integral with each other, and they are joined to side members 4 in air-tight seams. Dimensions of body and head sections 6, 8 and 10 will vary due to age group differentials. In other one standard size will not give the support necessary for all children watching television from a position on the floor.

FIG. 2 shows back panel 8, and indicates a valve, for simple inflation and deflation watching the cushion. This valve 22 can be an attached insertable plug to hold the desired air pressure and simple enough to remove for deflation and storage.

FIG. 3 depicts the cushion of the invention fully inflated, and occupied. The pressure of the lower back and shoulders against sections l4, l6 and 18 will force additional air into the uppermost ribbed section 20. This additional air protrudes headrest section 20 to support the head in a more comfortable position.

This invention is thus concerned with an inflatable cushion adapted to support the back and head. This device is desi ned to ive c mfo t ble b k d h (I support for pe rsons, epecially ch il c lren, 3310 ii iefei io watch television while lying on the floor. This support can be constructed of a durable rubberized or plastic product and will be inflated by a valve. The back use, head sections are quilted so that they adjust individually with ribs as pivot points to the weight and physical contour of the person occupying the device. The pressure from the weight of the back and shoulders causes the head section to expand to hold the head in a more vertical upright position. In fact the section under the least pressure above or below the point of greatest weight will expand or adjust in direct relation to the pressure applied. The approximate dimensions of the cushion are as follows: bottom l0, 16 inches long; back 8, 12 inches high; and width, 9 inches. These dimensions will not hold for all of the many age groups using the cushion of the invention. However, several sizes can be made. The cushion can be inflated by a child for use and then deflated and stored in minimum space.

The cushion of this invention is designed for the purpose of eliminating fatigue and undesirable positions, from a health standpoint, assumed by children watching television while on the floor. The cushion will be of a substantially triangular shape in relation to a person lying on his back, his head and back being raised to approximately a 45 angle.

What is claimed is:

1. An air cushion adapted to support the back, neck and head of a person reclining thereagainst, comprising opposite symmetrical side members, each substantially shaped like a scalene triangle, but with the long side of the triangle bowed inwardly, and front, back and bottom panel sections integral with each other, extending between the side members and joined to the edges of the side members in airtight seams to form a wedge shaped inflatable body portion, the front panel section being the section along the long side of the substantially triangularly shaped sides, said body portion being in the form of a series of ribbed sections including a headrest section and bodyrest sections defined by ribs extending transversely across front, back and bottom panels between the sides, the body portion being quilted transversely to form the ribs and ribbed sections, the ribbed sections being in communication with each other such that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion of the body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot point, the head and other sections which support lighter portions of the body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position while supporting lighter portions of the body in a supine position.

2. The cushion of claim 1, so quilted as to be divided into four ribbed sections.

3. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the front, back, and bottom panels are fabricated from a single piece of material with the two side panels being attached thereto in airtight scams.

4. The cushion of claim 3 made of a rubberized material having heat sealed seams. 

1. An air cushion adapted to support the back, neck and head of a person reclining thereagainst, comprising opposite symmetrical side members, each substantially shaped like a scalene triangle, but with the long side of the triangle bowed inwardly, and front, back and bottom panel sections integral with each other, extending between the side members and joined to the edges of the side members in airtight seams to form a wedge shaped inflatable body portion, the front panel section being the section along the long side of the substantially triangularly shaped sides, said body portion being in the form of a series of ribbed sections including a headrest section and bodyrest sections defined by ribs extending transversely across front, back and bottom panels between the sides, the body portion being quilted transversely to form the ribs and ribbed sections, the ribbed sections being in communication with each other such that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion of the body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot point, the head and other sections which support lighter portions of the body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position while supporting lighter portions of the body in a supine position.
 2. The cushion of claim 1, so quilted as to be divided into four ribbed sections.
 3. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the front, back, and bottom panels are fabricated from a single piece of material with the two side panels being attached thereto in airtight seams.
 4. The cushion of claim 3 made of a rubberized material having heat sealed seams. 